Chloe
The whole time Laura went on and on about Jake, I could feel anger simmering just below the surface. She couldn't stop talking about how wonderful he was, how he'd been her rock, and how lucky she felt. Her giddy little expressions made me want to roll my eyes. I had to keep my face neutral, though. Couldn't have her suspecting anything, right?
"Oh, Chloe, it's just been so amazing. Honestly, I never thought I'd be this happy with someone," Laura gushed, her eyes practically shining. She clearly had no clue. I bit my tongue, forcing a smile and nodding like I cared.
"That's wonderful, Laura," I replied smoothly, clenching my jaw when she wasn't looking. "I'm glad he treats you so well." And I almost choked on my own words. Jake belonged with me, not with this naive, lovestruck assistant who had no idea what she was doing.
At the store, I barely held back a glare as she tried on jewelry, admiring herself in the mirror. "Oh, Chloe, what do you think?" she asked, smiling as if she were some princess in a fairytale.
"It's perfect. You'll look... unforgettable," I said, forcing a smile through gritted teeth. In my mind, I imagined grabbing her and telling her to leave Jake for good. But no, I'd be patient. Jake was mine, and she'd be out of the picture soon enough.
On our way out, I decided it was time to play my next card. "It's so nice of you to include me, Laura," I murmured, sighing dramatically. "To be honest, it's been lonely lately. Going home to an empty apartment... no one to talk to... Sometimes, I feel like I'm just going through the motions." I said and then watched as her face softened. Hook, line, and sinker.
She invited me for dinner and even insisted when I pretended not to want to intrude.
Laura's eyes lit up with sympathy. "Come to dinner at my place! Please. Jake would love to meet you properly, too." She touched my arm in sympathy, and I struggled not to roll my eyes.
Got her. "Oh, I wouldn't want to intrude," I said, playing coy.
"No, no! You wouldn't be intruding at all," she insisted. "Please come over. We can all relax together."
"Well," I replied, as if I were still hesitant. "If you're sure…"
"I'm sure!" she said, practically bouncing. Perfect.
Back at her place, we started cooking, and I could hardly contain my excitement as I chopped vegetables and stirred sauces. I kept my face serene, hiding my anticipation. Jake would be home soon. I wanted to see the look on his face when he walked in and saw me here, comfortably making dinner with his fiancée.
"So, what do you think of this pasta dish?" Laura asked, smiling as she took a taste of the sauce.
"Oh, it's perfect. Jake will love it," I replied, keeping my voice steady. "This is his favorite, isn't it?"
Laura beamed. "Yes! It's his absolute favorite. I'm so happy to have someone to share all this with."
I bit back a snide comment and instead plastered on a smile. "Well, he's lucky to have someone like you."
She giggled and added some basil. "And I'm lucky to have him."
I gave her a tight smile, but inside, the jealousy was burning. Every little word, every single comment about their happiness, made me want to scream. But I had to be smart. The moment Jake arrived, I would make sure he remembered exactly who should be at his side.
Finally, we heard the door open. Laura immediately perked up and dashed to greet him. I stayed back, grinning to myself as I pictured his reaction.
I rolled my eyes, as I heard them exchange kisses, but then quickly wore a broad smile as they approached.
She took his hand, leading him toward the dining room. "Come on, I've got a surprise for you!" I heard her say.
As they walked in, Jake's eyes widened, taking in the spread of food on the table. And then his gaze fell on me. I was standing by the table, smiling politely.
"Hi, Prince Charming." The moment he saw me, he froze, his eyes widening just slightly as if he were caught off guard.
"Hey," he said, sounding surprised. His eyes darted around, and I stepped into view with a smile, playing the role of the friendly client.
"Jake," I said smoothly, nodding to him. "So nice to finally catch up with you again."
He blinked, and for a second, I saw the shock on his face, but he quickly hid it, glancing back at Laura. "Uh, yes... Chloe. Good to see you too. Thanks for helping my wife out with the plans and all."
Wife? Really? They are not yet married and he's already calling her his wife? Was he trying to make me jealous or what??
Laura wrapped an arm around him, clearly thrilled. "We made all your favorite food! Come on, let's eat."
I followed them to the table, giving Jake a knowing look. He was in for a very interesting evening.
We sat down, and as soon as we started eating, I discreetly slid my leg under the table, brushing it against his. He stiffened, looking at me with a warning glare. I simply gave him an innocent smile and continued eating.
"Chloe's been so helpful with all the wedding plans," Laura said, oblivious. "I couldn't have done all this without her."
Jake nodded, giving me another stern look, but I didn't stop. Instead, I pressed my leg against his a little more firmly, smiling to myself.
"So, Jake, how's work been?" I asked casually, raising an eyebrow.
"Uh, it's... busy," he replied tightly, looking uncomfortable. He shot me another warning look, but I ignored it.
Laura glanced between us, noticing the tension. "Is everything okay?"
"Oh, yes!" I said brightly, pulling my leg back just as she looked over. "I'm just thrilled to be a part of this. You two are so perfect together." I could see Jake trying not to glare at me, his jaw clenched.
Finally, he set his fork down and stood up abruptly. "Excuse me, I just... need a moment."
Laura looked surprised but before she could say a word or even stand to go after him, I interjected quickly, placing a hand on her arm. "Men need their space sometimes, you know? He'll come back when he's ready."
Laura hesitated but then nodded, sighing. "I suppose you're right."
We finished the meal, and then Laura and I did the dishes together, chatting about wedding details. I could tell she was getting a bit worried about Jake, but I wasn't about to let her check on him. I couldn't bear the thought of them getting intimate. It would kill me.
After the dishes were done, Laura started yawning. She glanced at her phone, realizing how late it was. "I should probably go to bed," she murmured.
"Oh, but there's still so much to plan!" I said quickly, grabbing my wedding planner. "We need to talk about the flowers, the decorations, and don't forget about the rehearsal dinner..."
Laura gave me a tired smile. "You're right. There's a lot to go over. Let's do a bit more."
We stayed up discussing the plans until she could barely keep her eyes open. Finally, she drifted off on the couch, and I waited a few minutes to make sure she was sound asleep.
Then, with a sly smile, I made my way upstairs. Jake's door was slightly ajar, and I slipped in, hearing the sound of running water from the bathroom.
The bathroom door opened, and Jake stepped out, towel wrapped around his waist. His eyes widened when he saw me.
"Chloe! What are you doing here?" he hissed, his face darkening.
"Oh, come on, Jake," I whispered, stepping closer. "You know exactly why I'm here."
He backed away, grabbing his towel tighter. "Chloe, leave. Now."
But I wasn't about to back down. I reached for the towel, trying to pull it off. "Don't act like you don't want this, Jake. We both know there's something here."
He grabbed my wrists, his face filled with anger. "Stop it, Chloe. I told you, this isn't happening. Leave. You don't get to come in here and disrespect my wife!"
I could feel the frustration boiling inside me. "You don't mean that. I know you, Jake. You wouldn't just forget about us so easily. And she's not your f*cking wife… atleast not yet." I fired at him but he scoffed and started dragging me to the door, ignoring my protests. Just as we reached it, the door swung open, and there stood Laura, looking surprised.
"Oh, hey," she said, oblivious to what was happening. Jake had quickly pushed me behind the door before she could see. "Is everything okay?" She quizzed.
Thinking quickly, Jake enveloped her in a tight hug. "Hey, love," he murmured, covering up the awkwardness. "Everything's fine. Just missed you. I was coming to get you. Did you sleep off there?" He asked.
Laura smiled and nodded, relaxing into his embrace. He made a face at me while I snuck out but stood at the entrance, watching them. As they kissed, I seethed, stuck behind the door, watching as he completely shut me out. Before I could say another word, Jake shut the door firmly in my face, turning the key in the lock.
I stood there, fists clenched, feeling the rage build up inside me.